From left: James Halaris, Brown-Forman Corporation; Lauren Johnson, Louisville Tourism; and Da’Marrion Flemming, Sowing Seeds of Faith.
“It’s Who You Know” is a series of Q&A profiles designed to help community leaders get to know each other, and learn from each other. Read on to meet three members of the just-announced Ignite Louisville Class of Spring 2019.
Da’Marrion Flemming
President and Founder, Sowing Seeds with Faith
Sowing Seeds with Faith is the largest after-school enrichment program in the west Louisville area.
LLC: What’s the best part of your current role?
Da’Marrion: The best part of my job is the ability to build relationships with all the students, parents, and all the others in the philanthropic world doing similar work to what I am doing.
LLC: What is the most challenging part of your current role?
Da’Marrion: Trying to prove the effectiveness of my program from aspects other than academics. We know that we improve, behavior, effort, self-esteem, and etiquette.
LLC: What might people be surprised to learn about you?
Da’Marrion: Probably that I am a Scrabble champion. I have a very large vocabulary due to playing Scrabble and Words with Friends. I also love to joke – joking has been the best medicine of my life.
LLC: What’s your favorite way to spend a Friday night in Louisville?
Da’Marrion: During football season I love to watch high school football games. I like to visit my scholars on the field, cheerleading on the side, or in the band at halftime. When it’s not football season, I like to play board games, or Uno, with my friends and/or kids.
James Halaris
Manager, Global Supply Chain Network Operations, Brown-Forman Corporation
LLC: Tell us about your hometown (if not Louisville).
James: I grew up in Clinton Township, Michigan, a suburb of Northeast Detroit. My parents still live in the area and it looks a lot different now compared to 25 years ago when I left.
LLC: What’s the best part of your current job?
James: I love working with people. I get to work with people from all over the world and in different functional areas. I am always learning something new about someone’s culture and find that very invigorating.
LLC: What might people be surprised to learn about you?
James: I once ran one mile or more every day for 826 days in a row (I got pneumonia and had to take 6 days off).
LLC: What’s the best book you’ve read recently? Why?
James: The Man in the High Castle. I love people’s views and thoughts about alternate history and timelines.
Lauren Johnson
National Sales Manager, Louisville Tourism (formerly Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau)
LLC: What’s the best part of your current role?
Lauren: Getting to sell the city I LOVE! Being born and raised in Louisville, the pride I have for our city is engrained in what makes me who I am. Site visits are my favorite part of the job. Bringing a customer to Louisville for the first time and them being blown away with all of the incredible things that Louisville has to offer for their convention or meeting is something that NEVER gets old. Being able to share our city with people as a part of my role reminds me that working for Louisville Tourism (CVB) is exactly where I’m supposed to be.
LLC: What is the most challenging part of your current role?
Lauren: As our city continues to shine in the conventions and meetings market, I’d say the most challenging part is not taking it personally when they select a different city for their meeting or convention.
LLC: What might people be surprised to learn about you?
Lauren: I am a mom of three kids under the age of three! Along with two Labrador Retrievers and husband that also works full time. We have quite the busy household. 😉
LLC: What’s your favorite way to spend a Friday night in Louisville?
Lauren: With young kiddos, our Friday nights look quite different lately, but one of my favorite ways to spend a Friday night out is enjoying delicious food and cocktails on a warm summer evening on the patio at one of my favorite local spots, Village Anchor.